Shoe heel and lift construction



Feb. 2, 1960 J. B. WHlTTED 2,923,071

Sam-z HEEL AND LIFT CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

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70/222 5 z/fl zfied WXZO Feb. 2, 1960 J. B. WHlTTED 2,923,071

SHOE HEEL AND LIFT CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 30, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE 1U FIE-14 44a 44 United States Patent Q SHOE HEEL AND LIFT CONSTRUCTION John B. Whitted, Kenilworth, Ill., assignor to Whitso,

' Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application January 30, 1959, Serial No. 790,091

4 Claims. (Cl. 36-36) This invention relates to a shoe heel and more particularly to a replaceable lift construction for the heel of a womans shoe.

A commonly used lift for womens shoes is a thin disc of leather or composition material nailed to the base of the shoe heel. The lift may be replaced by pulling off the used one and nailing a new disc in place. Many special forms of replaceable lifts have been proposed, using .spring connectors, threaded retaining devices and the like in an effort to eliminate the nails which have a tendency to break up the surface of the heel reducing the holding power. However, most of these proposals have resulted in expensive lifts made of several parts, requiring special assembly, and have insufficient holding power to prevent being pulled off accidentally.

The difiiculty of providing a suitable replaceable lift has been compounded by the recent trend to heels of greatly reduced cross-section with very little surface for securing the lift. These narrow heels are inherently structurally weak and breakage is also an acute problem.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved lift and heel construction with an inexpensive, easily replaced lift which will not pull Figure 7 is a section through the heel and tube taken generally along line 77 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a perspective of the tube blank;

Figure 9 is an elevation of a modified heel;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the end of the heel of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the heel of. Figure 9;

Figure 12 is an elevation of the modified lift of Figure 9;

Figure 13 is a plan view of the lift of Figure 12; and

Figure 14 is a fragmentary section of a further modiiication of the invention.

The invention as disclosed herein is embodied in several forms of high heels for womens shoes and it has certain special advantages which make it particularly adapted for use in this type of heel. However, there are features of the invention which also find use in other types of heels, as will be appreciated from the following description.

In Figure 1, a heel body 10 for a womans shoe is provided with a lift 11 forming thebearing or walking surface on the bottom thereof. The lift 11 wears in use and must be replaced periodically to preserve the appearance of the shoe and to prevent damage to heel 10. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the body 10 of the heel, which is of a molded composition material as a plastic,

-has a bore 12 extending longitudinally therethrough.

off accidentally, together with a strengthened heel which reduces breakage.

One feature of the invention is a heel having an elongated bore therein with a plurality of serrations extending transversely of the bore axis with a lift of resilient material having a post portion with longitudinally extending fillets on the outer surface, the post being received in the bore with the fillets in engagement with the serrations, and interengaging surfaces on the heel and lift locking the lift against rotation.

Another feature is a heel of a composition material with a tube locked in the bore and the lift held by the deforming action of serrations on the inner surface of the tube. A further feature is a modified heel with a threaded bore, the post portion of the lift being received in and deformed by the engagement with the threads of the bore.

Still another feature of the invention is a composition heel with a rolled tube therein having an outwardly extending spline, the spline locking the tube against rotation in the bore of the heel, and the tube providing physical strength for the heel.

Further features and advantages of the invention will readily be apparent from the following specification and from the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a shoe heel illustrating the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the heel of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded view with a portion of the heel broken away;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the lift;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an end view of the insert tube;

Received in the bore is a tubular member 13 which serves the dual purpose of providing an anchor for lift 11 and reinforcing the heel 10. The lower end of tube 13 is provided with a series of ribs or serrations 14 extending generally transversely to the longitudinal extent of the tube.

The lift 11, Figure 4, is molded of a suitable plastic material as nylon, and has a body portion 11a which forms the bearing surface and a post portion 11b extending upwardly from the central portion of the upper surface thereof. Formed in the outer surface of post 11b is a series of alternate longitudinal extending fillets and grooves. In the'preferred form illustrated in the drawings, fillets 16 and 17 are separated by a groove 18 of generally square shape while fillets '17 and 19 define an obtuse angled groove 20 similar in section to a fish tail. This particular fillet arrangement is deformed upon engagement with the serrations or teeth in tube 13 and it requires considerable force to remove the post therefrom.

The lower end of tube 13 is provided with tabs or fingers 22 which extend into complementary recesses 23 in the body of the lift adjacent post 11b, locking the lift against rotation relative to the tube. As will appear, the construction of the tube 13 is such that it is fixed with relation to the heel 10 and thus the lift is fixed relative to the heel.

An area 24 on the upper surface of body 1111 of the lift surrounding post 11b is relieved as seen in Figure 5. This relieved area permits the deformation of the lift upon insertion into the tube 13 so that its spring back resulting from the natural resiliency of the plastic lift material and the friction between post 11b and serrations 14 does not cause a space or gap between the upper surface of the lift and the bottom of the heel 10.

Tube 13 is preferably formed from a metal blank shown in Figure 8. A pair of notches 25 is cut in the longitudinal edges of the blank near either end thereof and the longitudinal edges between notches 25 are turned outwardly providing outwardly extending resilient splines 26. When the tube is forced into bore 12 of the heel, the splines 26 dig into the body of the heel fixing the tube. in place therein. This prevents rotation of the tube and 3 lift relative to the heel and adds to the strength of the assembly.

Initial assembly of the heel 10, tube 13 and lift 11 may be accomplished in various ways. Preferably the lift is first seated in the tube and the tube driven into the bore 12 of the heel. This facilitates positioning of the tube at the proper depth in the bore. However, the tube may be placedin position first and the lift driven in as a separate operation. When a lift has become worn, it is pulled out and a new one inserted. Generally, the portion 11a of the lift is made larger than the dimensions of the heel, and ground or cut to the heel size and configuration after insertion.

The outer edges of the fillets on post 11b define a circle which has a diameter slightly larger than the inner dimension of serrations 14, causing deformation of the fillets when the lift is inserted. The holding force of the serrations on the lift depends, at least in part, on the number of serrations which engage the fillets. A holding force of the order of fifty pounds is desirable to prevent accidental loss of a lift, and a minimum of four serrations engaging the post 11b of the lift is preferred.

In Figures 943, a second form of the invention is illustrated. A heel member of a cast material as alu minum, is provided with a bore 31 in the lower end thereof in which the lift 32 is secured. The outer surface of post 32!) is provided with a series of fillets and grooves Z6-2 as in Figure 4. The bore 31 may be tapped with ordinary screw threads as indicated at 33 providing serrations or teeth which grip the fillets of post 3212. Four recesses 34 are formed in the base of heel member 30 surrounding bore 31. The upper surface of the body 3211 of the lift is provided with complementary lugs 35 which seat in recesses 34 preventing rotation between the heel and lift. Lift 32 may be attached to heel 30 by tapping it into place with a mallet or tool. It is unneccessary to screw it in although with the threaded bore this is possible up to the point where lugs 35 engage the bottom surface of the heel 30.

In Figure 14 a modified form of heel is illustrated. It is sometimes undesirable to have the lower end of tube 13 project below the bottom surface of heel member 10 (Figures l-3) as many women fail to have lifts replaced as they wear and a projecting part might be worn off before the lift was replaced. As seen in Figure 14, the heel body has a bore 41 with tube 42 received therein. The lower end of heel 40 is counterbored at 43 and the lower end of the tube 42 is recessed within the body of the heel. The lift 44 has a post portion 44b received in the end of tube 42 and surrounded by a shoulder 45 on the upper surface of the body 44a of the lift which extends into the counterbore." Recesses 46 provided in shoulder 45 receive locking tabs 47 on the lower end of tube 42.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed i i the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe heel comprising: a heel having a bore therein with a plurality of serrations extending generally transversely of the axis of the bore; a lift of resilient material having a post portion with longitudinally extending fillets on the outer surface, said post being received in said bore with the fillets deformed by engagement with said serrations; and interengaging surfaces on said heel and lift, locking the lift against rotation relative to the heel.

2. A shoe heel comprising: a heel having a bore therein with a plurality of' serrations extending generally transversely of the axis of the bore; a lift of resilient material having a post portion with longitudinally extending fillets on the outer surface, said post being received in said bore with the fillets deformed by engagement with said serrations; and surfaces defining at least one recess on one of said heel and lift, with a complementary extension on the other projecting into said recess and locking the lift against rotation relative to the heel.

3. A shoe heel comprising: a heel having a threaded bore; a lift of resilient material having a post portion with longitudinally extending filets on the outer surface, said post being received in said bore with the fillets deformed by engagement with the threads; and interengaging surfaces on said heel and lift, locking the lift against rotation relative to the heel.

4. A shoe heel comprising: a heel having a threaded bore; a lift of resilient material having a post portion with longitudinally extending fillets on the outer surface, said post being received in said bore with the fillets deformed by engagement with the threads; surfaces defining a plurality of slots spaced around the periphery of said bore; and lugs formed on said lift and extending into said slots locking the lift against rotation on said heel.

No references cited. 

